12th Spring Juried Fine Arts and Crafts Festival
At Kutztown University on March 29 and 30, 2014
The Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen—the largest chapter in the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen–will hold its 12th annual Juried Fine Arts and Crafts Festival at Kutztown University’s O’Pake Fieldhouse, 312 Trexler Ave., Kutztown on Saturday, March 29 (9 a.m.-5 p.m.) and Sunday, March 30 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.).
The highly popular Mid-Atlantic craft show with more than 80 seasoned and student artisans is presented in partnership with the Pennsylvania German Scholarship Studies, the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center in Kutztown and the university, whose art students also will exhibit their work at the show.
Reading-Berks Guild President Barry Bennecoff said visitors will be able to see and purchase a diverse selection of quality handcrafted traditional and contemporary work created by mainly local craftsmen who are nationally and internationally known.
Guild member exhibits and demonstrations will cover traditional wood turning, shaker boxes, braided and penny rugs, scherenschnitte paper cuttings, folk art, theorem painting, country furniture, calligraphy, basketry, tinsmithing, redware, block printing, quilting, wheat weaving, painted beeswax, hand-hammered aluminum, felted wool and metal yard art.
Also at the show will be contemporary ceramics, glass, jewelry, dried florals, wearable art, photography and fine artwork produced by Guild members.
A special attraction will be a silent auction of works by the late Gene Burkhart, a Guild member and an award winning and internationally acclaimed flower artist. Twenty different works of Burkhart’s will be auctioned, 10 each day, and winners will be notified at 2 p.m. Money raised in the auction will go to the Guild’s student and member scholarships.
Butch Imhoff’s “The Acoustic Road Show” will provide music during both days of the show with different acts appearing every half hour and performing bluegrass, bluegrass gospel, rock, pop, comedy, folk, country and more. Kutztown University students will also perform.
There will be refreshments offered by Dori Martin Catering and a $10 hourly door prize drawing. Free and ample parking with handicapped areas is available. The show is wheelchair accessible as well. The
donation for admission is $6. Children under 12 are free. The Guild’s 65th annual juried holiday festival will on Oct. 25 and 26, 2014 at Kutztown.